Closure fastener



G. R. GIBSON GLOSURE FASTENER Filed Nov. 16, 1944 Aug. 27, 1946.

Patented Aug. 27, 1946 CLOSURE FASTEN ER George Gibson, BrookfelcL-Ohio,assgnor to The General Fireproofing Company, Youngstown, Ohio, acorporation of hio Application November 16, 1944,`seria1No.f563,.6s2

This invention relates to fasteners for swinging or sliding closures,such as doors, windows, drawers and the like.

In many instances it is desirable that a closure have a frame, thestiles or equivalent elements ofwhich are of narrow width. For example,in the case of hospital windows and hospital doors having transparentpanels, it is desirable that the stiles be of as narrow width aspracticable in order that the windows and doors may admit the greatestpossible amount of light especially in instances where the doors orwindows are of narrow width. Also, it is quite desirable in manyinstances to provide a closure fastener embodying three latch or lockbolts, one at each end or side of the closure and the other at anintermediate point, all operable by a common mechanism, and to mountsaid latch or lock bolts and their operating mechanism in a door orwindow stile or its equivalent.

Accordingly, the general object of the present invention is to provide aclosure fastener which embodies three latch or lock bolts and a commonoperating mechanism therefor, and which is of quite narrow Width,whereby it may readily be mounted in a door or window stile orequivalent element of quite vnarrow width in any instance where that maybe desirable.

To the end ofnaccomplishing the aforesaid general purpose in a simple,practical manner, a special object of the invention is to provide alatch or lock bolt which is pivoted for swinging movement betweenprojected and retracted,

5 Claims. (Cl. 292-39) Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cross sections on thelines 3 3, 4 4, 5--5 and 6--6, respectively, of Figure 1. n

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates a portion of a closureframe and B designates a portion of an associated closure which, forpresent purposes, may be considered as a door hinged at one side forswinging movement between open and closed positions.

The door B includes a frame b and a vpanel b' which, in the presentinstance, is illustrated as being of transparent material, although itmay be of any other material. In any event, the frame b includes top andbottom cross members, only portions of which are shown, and verticalside members or stiles only the one of which at the free edge of thedoor is shown. These members preferably are of duplicate construction.They may, however, be of unlike construction. In any event, the stile atthe free edge of the door and with which the presentv inventionparticularly is concerned, is hollow andv of narrow width and is closedat its outer and inner sides by walls I0 and I I, respectively,` and atits outer edge by a wall I2 which constitutes the free vertical edge ofthe door. On the other hand, said stile which is designated as b" isprovided at its inner edge with a slotto accommodate the relatedmarginal portion of the panel b'.

While the stile b" may be of any suitable construction, it preferably i5formed from sheet metal, its wall I D and I2 being, for example, in-

` tegral with one another, as shown, and its wall latching or lockingand unlatching or` unlocking positions, respectively, and which is of anovel form whereby it is swung tooperatively engage its related keeperin response to closing`move ment of the closure. Y

.Another special object of the invention is to provide a narrow-width,common operating mechanism for three latch or lock bolts which is ofsimple, `practical construction, easy to install and thoroughly reliableand satisfactory in use. With the foregoing and other objects in view,

which will become more fully apparent as the' nature of the invention isbetter understood, Vthe same consists in a closure fastener embodyingthe novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partsas will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in the different views:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a closure equippedwithV fastening means in accordance with the invention.

f Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Il being, for example, separate from its walls I0 and I2v to permitready installation of the panel b'. In this connection and, according tothe specific constructionillustrated inthe present instance, themarginal portion of the edge wall l2 at the inner side ofthe stile isturnedY or lock bolts and their operating means presently A to bedescribed. v y Y 4 The channel member I5 is approximately coextensive inlength with the stile b and includes an outer side wall I6 disposedagainst andv spot welded or lotherwise suitably secured to the outersidewall I0 of the stile b, and inner and outer edge walls IT and i8,respectively, extending from the Wall I6 toward rthe inner sidel of thestile and having their free marginal'por- 'tions turned toward the outeror free edge ofV the stile in the form of flangesI 9 and 20, respecttively. The'lange 20 is yspaced inwardly from'v to neatly-accommodatethe said outer marginal Vof the inner side wall II of the stile, thusto" cooperate with said flange I3 to provide a slot portion of saidinner side wall II. On the other'V hand, the flange I9 underlies theinner side wall II of the stile near theV .inturned inner edgethereof tserve as a support for the latter and n also to receive fasteners such'as screws 2i by means of which said inner side wall I I is removablysecured in place. l

Mounted vin the upper end portion of the channel member I for freelongitudinal sliding movementrelative thereto is a latch or lock bolt22, the upper end portion of which ispro-iectab-le above and retractableto or below the top edge of the door through an opening inthe top ,crossmember of the door frame. Similarly mounted in theloiwer end portion ofthe channel member i5 is a latch or lock bolt 23 the lower end portionof which is projectable below and retractable `to or above the` loweredge vof the door through an opening in the bottom cross member of thedoor frame.V Attheirinner sides the end portic-nsofuthe latch ory lockbolts 2?. and 23 are beveled in Vaccordance `with known practice so thatif they are in their projected positions when the door is being'closed-they will be automatically retracted responsive to closingvmovement of the doorY due tothe wedgingor cam `action of their beveledinner sides withtheir keepers which may be ofY any suitable Vform andlwhich kare designated as 25.

At a suitable point intermediate the latch or.

lock-bolts 22. and 23, .a third latch or lock bolt 25 provided,Y Thislatch orlock bolt 25 is mounted for swinging movementin the plane of thedoor upona pivot pin 2li which extendsrtransversely of the door at rightangles thereto and which is located adjacentV to the edge wall I2-of thestile b", ,said pin being mounted at its ends, foreX- I amplain openingsin the side `wall I5 and the ilange I3 oi said stile b.

Thelatch orlock bolt 25 is pivoted intermediate its ends and adjacent tooneedge thereofY upon the pin 25 and includesa latching or lockingportion 2T which, by ,rotation of said bolt in one direction through anangle of approximately Y 'net-y degrees, is proiectable to a latching orlocking position Yin which it extends beyond the stile wall I2; i. e.,beyond the free 'edgeof the, door, as

shown, and which, yby krotation of said locking bolt in the oppositedirectionthrough. an angle of approximately ninety degrees, isretractable to an be in its projected position duringclosing of thedoor, the beveled inner face of said portion will,

Yby reason of its wedging o-r cam action against the related keeper,designated as 28, cause said portion to swing to itsretracted positionso as to clear the keeper for subsequent projection behind latter. Thekeeper 28 may b e of anysuitrable fornrandis illustrated in the presentinl stance as being comprised by va portion of the door A 'unlatched orunlocked position in which it is dis- Y latch or lock bolts 22 and 23,respectively.

i is closed.

Referring now to the common operating means Yfor the latch or lock bolts22, 23 and 25, 29 designates a block which is longitudinally slidable inthe channel member I5 and which has therein a slot 30 into which extendsthe free, inner end of a lever arm 3| which, at its outer end, ispivoted to a supportingr bracket 32 for swinging movement to shift saidblock 29 longitudinally. The bracket 32 is fixed to the stile b" at theouter side thereof and asuitable handle 33 is fixed with respect to thearmv 3i lfor effecting swinging movements thereof. Y, 4 k According tothe specific Yarrangement illustrated inthe drawing, a vpairof blocks34, 34 are slidably mounted in the channel member I5 above and below theblockV 29, respectively, and have fixed thereto and extending upwardlyanddownwardly therefrom, respectively, rods 35, 35. To the upper andlower ends, respectively, of these rods are fixed tubes 36, 35, and inthe upper and lower ends, respectively, of said tubes are slidablymountedv stems 3l, 3T, which are xed to and extend inwardly from theinner ends of the Fixed in the side walls of each tube 35 and ex tendingthrough a longitudinally elongated slot S38 in the related stem 3l is'apin 39, while fixed and extending ythrough longitudinally elongated"slots 4o in each tube 35 is a related screw orpin 4 I. The screws orpins 4I, il are spaced inwardly from the inner ends of the stems 31, 3l,respectively, and between each screw or pin Vi-Ik and the inner end ofthe related 'stem' 3l is interposedY an expansion 4spring 42(Accordingly, said springs 42, l2 tend constantly to urge the tubes v35,36 outwardly to their limits of outward movement, as determined byengagement ofthe tube walls at the inner ends of the slots 43 with thescrews or pins 4i, and also to urgethelatch or lock bolts 22 and' 23coi'istantly outward to .their limits of outward movement asdeterminedby engagement oi' the walls at the inner ends of the slots v38in the stems 3l with the pinsi. In this connection, theconstructionobviously is such `that if the latch orlockY bolts 22 and 23are projected as shown` in lFigure 1, they will be retracted by inwardmovement ofthe rods 35, 35 and the tubes 36, 36. At the sameY time, theconstruction is such-that even though the rods 35 andthe tubes .35, -35are not movedlinwardly, the latch or lock bolts22 and 23 are free to bemoved inwardly against the springsZ, 42. vIn shortthedescribedconstruction provides Yfor positively retractinglthe latch or lockvbolts 22, 23 when itis desired to` open the door` and, at the sametime, provides for automatic retraction of said bolts by engagement oftheir beveled inner faces with theirrelated keepers topermit the door tobe closed, as well as for subsequent spring projection of said boltstotheir door latching or locking positions when the door The block 25 isSethereabove bya bar 43. On the other hand,

the vblock 29is connected with the block 34 therek44 Vand 45. The pinion45 mayappropriately be rigidly Connected with the bloes J mounted in asuitable frame 41 suitably fastened in the channel member It. In anyevent, it is apparent that the springs 42 tend constantly-to projectboth latch or lock boli-s 22 and 23 and to shift the block Z9 upwardly,and that by downward movement of said block 2S, both latch or lock bolts22 and 23 will be retracted. The block 2B is, of course, shiftabledownwardly to retract the bolts 22 and 23 by means of the handle 33operating through the lever arm 3 l.

The lock or latch bolt is located between the block 29 and the upperbiock 34 and, inwardly of its pivot pin it, has projecting laterallytherefrom a pin 4l" over which extends a finger 48 which projectslaterally from the bar 43. Accordingly, when the bar 43 is shifteddownwardly, the finger G8 acts upon the pin 4l to rotate the latch orlock bolt 25 to its retracted position. On the other hand, a suitablespring 49 is provided to rotate said bolt 25 to its projected positionwhen the bar 43 and the finger 4a are moved upwardly. Obviously, thefinger 43 acts as a'stop engageable by the pin 4i' to limit rotation ofthe bolt 25 beyond its projected position.

summarizing, it will be apparent that normally the three latch or lockbolts 22, 23 and 25 are projected; that they will be urged inwardlyautomatically during and in response to closing movement of the door topermit the door to close and to permit them to subsequently be projectedbehind their keepers; that they will be projected behind their keeperswhen the door is closed; that all of them will be retracted to permitthe door to be opened by the mere act of swinging the handle 33 in adirection to swing the lever arm 3| downwardly, and that upon release ofsaid handle they will be projected by the springs 42 and 49. In thisconnection, it will be noted that the handle 33 extends downwardlyrelative to the lever arm 3| so that it is adapted to be pulled toretract the bolts 22, 23 and 25 and also to open the door. Further inthis connection it is pointed out that a lock 50 may be associated withthe lever arm 3l, the handle 33 and the bracket as shown so that saidlever arm and handle may be locked against swinging movement to thuslock the door in its closed position.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, it is believed that the construction and mode ofoperation of the present closure fastening means Will be readilyunderstood and its advantages appreciated. Y It is desired to point out,however, that while only a single, specific structural embodiment of theinvention has been illustrated .and described, the same is readilycapable of embodiment in specifically different structures within itsspirit and scope as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Closure fastening means comprising a latch bolt carried by theclosure for linear projection and retraction relative thereto and havingits rear face beveled so that by engagement thereof with a keeper duringclosing of the door the bolt is retracted, a stein extending inwardlyfrom said bolt and having therein a slot extending longitudinallythereof, a tube in the outer end portion of which said stem is slidablymounted a pin fixed with respect to said tube and extending'through saidslot, said tube having therein a slot extending longitudinally thereof,a pin extending Vthrough the slot in said tube and fixed with respect tothe closure, an expansion spring disposed within said tube andinterposed between said secondposite directions, respectively, a blockcarried by the closure and shiftable relative thereto in the samedirections as said bolts, connections between said block and said boltswhereby shifting of said block in one direction retracts both bolts andwhereby said bolts are retractable relative to said block withoutshifting the latter, means for manual actuation to shift said block insaid direction, and springs means for projecting said bolts and forshifting said block in the opposite direction.

3. Closure fastening means comprising a pair of latch bolts carried'bythe closure for linear projection and retraction relative thereto inopposite directions, respectively, a block carried by the closure andshiftable relative thereto in the same directions as said bolts,lost-motion connections between said block and said bolts wherebyshifting of said block in one direction retracts said bolts and wherebysaid bolts are retractable independently of any shifting movement ofsaid block, means for manual actuation to shift said block in adirection toretract said bolts, `and springmeans for projecting saidbolts and for shifting said block in the opposite direction.

4. Closure fastening means comprising a` pair of latch bolts carried bythe closure for linear projection and retraction relative thereto inopposite directions, respectively, a blockcarried by the closure andshiftable relative thereto in the same directions as said bolts, aconnection between said block and one of said bolts whereby shifting ofsaid block in one direction shifts said bolt in the same direction to aretracted position, a rack and pinion connection between said block andthe other bolt whereby shifting of said block in said direction shiftssaid other bolt in an opposite direction to its retracted position, andspring means for projecting said bolts and for shifting said block Vinthe opposite direction.

5. Closure fastening means comprising a pair of latch bolts carried bythe closure for linear projection and retraction relative thereto inopposite directions, respectively, a stem extending inwardly from eachbolt and having therein a slot elongated longitudinally thereof, a pairof tubes in the outer end portions of which said stems are slidablyengaged, respectively, a pin fixed with respect to each tube andextending through the slot in the related stem, each tube having thereina slotelongated longitudinally thereof, a pin extending through eachtube slot and xed with respect to the closure, an expansion spring ineach tube interposed between each second-mentioned pin and the adjacentend of the related stem whereby both tubes and both bolts are urgedconstantly outwardly and whereby said bolts are retractableindependently of inward movement of said tubes, the rear faces of saidbolts being beveled so that by their engagement with related keepersduring closing of the door said bolts are retracted to clear thekeepers, and means connecting said tubes and manually operable to movethem simultaneously inwardly to retract said bolts.

GEORGE R. GIBSON.

